Belleville House celebrates groundbreaking

NORTH KINGSTOWN – The building that used to house St. Bernard’s Church, 410 Tower Hill Road, is being transformed into 40 affordable apartments for the elderly in a joint partnership between the Washington County Community Development Corporation and Church Community Housing.

Though construction began in May, representatives from those two organizations along with officials from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), the Office of Housing and Community Development/Housing Resources Commission (HRC), Rhode Island Housing and local elected officials held a formal ground breaking ceremony Friday morning.

The property, which has roots dating back to 1874, was bought in February and the construction will take place in two phases. The first phase will include 20 one-bedroom apartments in both the former church and a new addition attached to the rear of church building. The second phase will be an additional 20 one-bedroom apartments in the former parish hall and rectory.

“This is a beautiful building and it’s great to see it being used for a good cause,” said North Kingstown Town Council President Elizabeth Dolan. “It’s great that we’ll be able to help residents stay in town, rather than move elsewhere. This will also allow for new residents.”